Combination transformer case and attached insulator bracket for riser wire



Aug. 29, 1961 c, x

COMBINATION TRANSFORMER CASE AND ATTACHED INSULATOR BRACKET FOR RISER WIRE Filed Oct. 21, 1958 FIG. I "A W I 5 I3 I I3 I5 21- I ,5 2/ e 9 l9 1 L7 \f I g 204 WI r1327 4 20 I I,

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IIIIIJIIIuIIIm United States Patent 2,998,476 COMBINATION TRANSFORMER 'CASE AND AT- TACHED INSULATOR BRACKET FOR RISER This invention relates to insulator brackets, and with regard to certain more specific features, to safety brackets of this class adapted for convenient application to and removal from the lower rims of transformers.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an insulator bracket adapted, for example, for convenient application to and removal from the lower rolled rims of transformers; the provision of such an insulator bracket which will hold transformer secondary riser wires in electrically safe positions in which they will be prevented from short-circuiting on the transformer cases, as was heretofore caused by their insulations fraying and scutfing off due to contact with the insulator cases under conditions of wind, weather and vibration; and the provision of a bracket of this class which may be conveniently applied in any favorable position on the bottom of any size or make of transformer to provide the safety desired, along with a neat and orderly appearance. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation on a reduced scale, showing application of my invention to a pole-supported transformer bank;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the bracket, shown in open position of its jaws;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of parts of FIG. 2, showing the bracket clamped in position on a transformer having an outside roll-seamed rim, the latter being shown in section; and,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the bracket clamped into position on a transformer having an inside roll-seamed rim.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown at numeral 1 a pole supporting a group of upright transformers 3, 5, 7 on brackets such as shown at 9. Transformers such as these are usually mounted at an elevation such that the primary wires, as indicated at 11, are wired from above into the transformer insulator bushings 13, located on their respective covers 15. The bodies of the transformers are usually constituted by cylindrical steel or similar casings 17, having substantially vertical axes as shown and which contain the usual oil-submerged electrical parts. The bottoms of the transformers within their lower downwardly extending cylindrical rims 4 are shown at 18 in FIGS. 3 and 4, being connected with the sides of the casings 17 either by an outer rolled seam such as shown at 20 in FIG. 3, or an inner rolled seam such as shown at 22 in FIG. 4. As shown, the rolled seams form marginal bulges on the rims.

So-called secondary riser wires, such as indicated at 19, extend into upper bushings 21 from a suitable bracket ice 23. A ground wire is shown at 25. Heretofore, secondary riser wires such as 19 have been unsupported over the spans between the bracket 23 and respective bushings 21. Consequently, under conditions of wind, weather, vibration, etc., there has been a tendency for them to be whipped, blown or vibrated against the transformer casings, with the result that in time the insulation on the wires became frayed or s'cufred off, with resulting short-circuiting conditions between the exposed wires and the transformer casings. Appropriate wire supports heretofore have not been supplied because of the inconvenience in appropriately locating supporting insulators for the purpose.

Numeral 27 indicates my new insulator bracket in general. It is constituted by a clamp member 29, having a relatively fixed jaw 31 and a relatively movable jaw 33, slidable on the member 29 and having a rotary connection 35 with a screw 37 threaded through an car 39 and provided with a hand control knob 41. Thus the movable jaw 33 may be moved to and from the fixed jaw 31 by rotating the knob 41.

Afiixed to the jaw 31 is an insulator spool 43, aflixation being accomplished by providing a lug 45 on the jaw 31, which is cemented in a suitable central opening at one end of the insulator. Its axis extends in the direction of relative jaw movement. In another suitable opening in the other end of the insulator spool is cemented the shank 47 of a wire clip 49, having bendable tines 51 adapted for acceptance of a secondary riser l9 and bending of the tines 51 to hold the riser in position. This is accomplished after the bracket is applied to the transformer rim in the most suitable peripheral position for holding the wire, wherever the latter happens to be located. The bracket when open is applied loosely over the rolled seam 20 or 22 as the case may be and the jaws 27 and 31 brought together by turning the knob 41 after location near the riser to be supported. Preferably the outer jaw 31 is concavely bowed, as shown at 53, soas more or less to fit the outer contour of the transformer case. Similar bowing 55 of the movable jaw 33 causes strong endwise biting between the ends of the jaw 33 and the inside of the transformer casing.

It will be seen from the above that regardless of where the secondary risers 19 may be located in respect to a given location of a transformer bank, it is quite easy to move a loosely applied insulator clamp around the transformer rim into the best location for tightening into permanent position near the riser to be held in place. The n'ser may then be conveniently inserted into the clip 49 and the tines 51 bent to anchor it. The resulting neat appearance is indicated in FIG. 1, which will be maintained under all conditions of wind, weather, vibration, et cetera.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The combination of a transformer case having a lower rim, an upper insulating bushing extending transversely from a side of the case, a wire extending downward from said bushing in a substantially spaced relationship with respect to a side of the case and extending downward past said rim, quick-attachable and -detachable clamp means located on said lower rim where said wire extends past it, an insulator spool carried by said clamp means and extending transversely with respect to the side of the case, and supporting means for said wire on said insulator spool anchoring the wire in said sub stantially spaced relationship to the side of the case, whereby the wire is positively prevented from chafing the case at all points along it above and substantially below said rim.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said transformer case is of cylindrical form having a vertical axis, and wherein 'said anchored wire is substantially vertically positioned parallel to said vertical axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wallace *Feb. 20, 1877 Rothenberger Apr. 16, 1895 McFeaters June 3, 1913 Horsfall June 5, 1928 Berezowski Nov. 18, 1930 Weber Dec. 14, 1948 Birkenmaier May 2, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Publication: Universal Pole Bracket Corporation, catalogue, published 1954, page 3 relied on. 

